Breast and endocrine surgery: BRCA1 tumour phenotype: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Breast and endocrine surgery: BRCA1 tumour phenotype

Sample item

A 32-year-old BRCA1 mutation carrier is diagnosed with breast cancer. Which phenotype is she most likely to have?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Triple-negative, basal-like carcinoma

Breast cancers in BRCA1 carriers are typically high-grade, triple-negative (ER, PR and HER2 negative) and basal-like, and are often diagnosed at a young age. BRCA2-related cancers are more often oestrogen receptor-positive.

Option by option

  • A. Invasive lobular carcinoma

    Lobular carcinoma is not specifically associated with BRCA1.

  • B. HER2-enriched carcinoma

    HER2 amplification is not typical of BRCA1 tumours.

  • C. Luminal A, oestrogen receptor-positive carcinoma

    Luminal A tumours are more frequent in sporadic and BRCA2-related cancers.

  • D. Triple-negative, basal-like carcinoma (correct)

    Correct. BRCA1-related cancers are characteristically triple negative.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Triple-negative, basal-like carcinoma. Breast cancers in BRCA1 carriers are typically high-grade, triple-negative (ER, PR and HER2 negative) and basal-like, and are often diagnosed at a young age.

Why is "Invasive lobular carcinoma" not the answer?

Lobular carcinoma is not specifically associated with BRCA1.

Why is "HER2-enriched carcinoma" not the answer?

HER2 amplification is not typical of BRCA1 tumours.

Why is "Luminal A, oestrogen receptor-positive carcinoma" not the answer?

Luminal A tumours are more frequent in sporadic and BRCA2-related cancers.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast and endocrine surgery: BRCA1 tumour phenotype in General Surgery. BRCA2-related cancers are more often oestrogen receptor-positive.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Breast and endocrine surgery: BRCA1 tumour phenotype?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.